Chapter 31 – A New Start

Mr Lovegood didn’t hold back the stops for his Daughter, after all she was his only child and he loved her more than anyone, how could he not love her? With her bulgy blue eyes and blond hair that reminded him so much of his late wife, who also had Luna’s quirky ways and yet Luna seemed more relaxed with herself these days, and he knew that she would never undertake an unwarranted risk - she didn’t have to. Luna in his eyes had awarded herself with her bravery, and the letter he had received from Albus Dumbledore highlighting her remarkable courage in the battle at Hogwarts overwhelmed him. Finally his little girl had come into her own.


However, when he asked her about what had happened at Hogwarts she would brush it off and always complement Harry on his bravery while continuing to read up on estranged tales of fantasy beasts which she knew pleased her Father; but after all these years didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth, that they never really existed. She only spoke of these unearthly creatures to other students because it was her way of having fun and making people hear her, even though her topics of conversation were sometimes looked upon as being absurd and ‘loony.’ That was until she met Harry and his friends in her third year of school and that was when everything changed.

“You look beautiful.” said Mr Lovegood who was standing in her bedroom doorway, marvelling at his little girl who no longer looked little anymore, she was a young woman with a sparkle in her eye, a sparkle he had never seen until recently, and he knew that young Mr Potter was the main reason for this child’s transformation into young adulthood. Finally Luna Lovegood was the person she wanted to be, and it took a remarkable stage of events to find her.

As Harry stepped off the Knight Bus, he rubbed his head with a firm hand and moaned – twice he had hit his head on the side of the window due to Ernie’s impeccable driving! Or so Ernie liked to think anyway, yet for everyone else it was a ride on the bus from hell, and yet Harry was still pleased he took the Knight Bus as his form of transport and stayed clear of the fire grate.

He wasn’t the first to arrive; he noticed a young lady with her hair tied up, standing next to a tall lanky young man with red hair. Harry smiled, they looked so happy together and for a moment Harry just stood there, watching them before quickly approaching his best friends, who were chatting animatedly to Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Neville’s Girlfriend, Ginny Weasley.

“Harry!” exclaimed Ginny happily as he approached the group.

“Hi mate, you’re late! Luna was getting worried.” said Neville as he shook Harry’s hand.

“I took the Knight Bus!” he replied.

“What in heavens for? Why didn’t you use the floo network?” asked Seamus.

Ron just laughed. “Don’t worry Harry, we got a ride in a muggle car with Hermione’s Dad, it beats Floo travel that’s for sure!”

“That’s why I caught the Knight Bus!” said Harry with a frown of amusement.

Luna came out holding what looked like a large punch bowl full of fruit juice, or so Harry thought. That was until he noticed Fred and George Weasley pouring some fire whisky into it.

Another screech of “HARRY” flew though the air which made a lot of the other guests turn around to observe Luna run into the arms of the ‘Boy who lived.’ Some of the guests were friends of Mr Lovegood’s and watched on in awe, while all the others smiled because they all knew Harry and Luna, due to the fact they were members of Dumbledore’s Army, or even teachers at Hogwarts. As Harry cuddled Luna, he noticed Karis and Bill talking to Albus and Minerva by the fired up barbeque. Albus looked to be prodding a burnt sausage with a fork.

“I didn’t think you were going to make it Potter!” mocked Luna with wide eyes.

“Sorry, I took the Knight Bus and well… it took the scenic route.”

Luna smiled and as Harry looked into her eyes he felt sudden warmth enthral him and without even thinking about onlookers he bent down and kissed her gently on the lips which is where they stayed for a few moments before he heard a recognisable shout in the close distance with the words “Get a room!” followed by a loud slap by Molly Weasley. “Fred, don’t be rude!”

Fortunately everyone laughed, which eased Molly’s embarrassment immediately, and so she smiled and made her way to the barbeque where she scolded Albus for not keeping a close enough eye on the food.

“Molly, I am a sorcerer in the art of magic, so therefore I’m a terrible chef, one cannot bear all gifts Molly.”

“Hello Professor.” said Harry as he approached Albus, and gave Karis a warm kiss on the cheek and then proceeded to shake Bill’s hand.

“Harry, how are you?” asked Albus while putting a grandfatherly hand on the young man’s shoulder. Harry noted this kind gesture and smiled at Albus’ effort to enjoy the day and not revert back to the conversation they had held with Karis about the events that took place nearly two months ago.

“I’m good.” was his reply, which Albus took immediately as ‘could be better’.


“Well that is Brilliant news, because school is to commence after the wedding.” said Albus with a beaming smile.

Harry looked taken aback and even Ron and Hermione who had heard the word wedding looked confused, but the word ‘school’ made Hermione almost jump in delight.

“Wedding?”

“Karis?” said Albus, looking over to his Granddaughter who appeared to have an infectious beaming smile on her face too; while grasping hold of Bill’s hand.

Harry and a few others looked on. Karis looked at Bill and they smiled at each other, which immediately answered the question on most people’s face. “When?” exclaimed Harry, clapping his hands.

“Two weeks, in Hogwarts, the Great Hall actually - because it just feels like home.”

Harry congratulated them both and then asked the big question. “Who’s your best man, Bill?”

But before Bill could answer, somebody approached Harry from behind. “I am.”

As Harry turned around, his expression must have been a picture to onlookers as his face echoed a gesture of surprise as he looked into the familiar face of one, Percy Weasley.

*

All feel silent for a few agonising moments, and Percy squirmed at the frosty reception. Harry noticed and decided it was time to let bygones be bygones.

“It’s good to see you have come to your senses, Percy” said Harry, but with a playful twinkle in his eye.

“Yes, well I daresay that I was misinformed by my piers, and will allow myself in the future to listen closely to those closer to me.” replied Percy, who then glanced over to his Father.

Mr Weasley noticed this gesture and nodded his head in affirmation, and quietly approached his Son.

Mr Weasley stood in-front of the young man, and had an urge to give him a piece of his mind, but realised that there had been too many upheavals, too much sadness and too much loss to go down a petty route, so he gently embraced his son instead, and whispered in Percy’s ear, “welcome back”.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other and smiled, when they noticed Molly wipe her tears gently away with a handkerchief that she pulled out of her cloak pocket.

Fred and George smirked at Percy’s presence, but upon Ginny shooting them a foreboding look, they lightened up and moved forward with Molly to also welcome the young man back into their lives. It was only Ron who seemed stuck to the spot, his face pink. Hermione gave him a small nudge “Go on Ron”.

Ron looked into the eyes of his Girlfriend and whispered “I don’t know if I can forgive him for putting Mum and Dad through that, and what he said about Harry. After everything we have been through, he just thinks he can waltz back in as if nothing has happened.”

Hermione put her hand on Ron’s shoulder. “I know, I didn’t agree with all of that either, but it’s a new start for everyone, including Percy, everyone deserves another chance, Ron.”

Ron looked lost in thought for a moment, then turned to Hermione. “You’re right Hermione, you’re always right, what would I do without you?”

“Be a git all of the time.” she mocked.

Ron laughed and so did Harry when he heard her remark, “Like Ron said Hermione, you’re always right.” chuckled Harry.

Ron moved forward and joined the embrace, while Karis and Bill both beamed with delight.

“Let’s hope the wedding is as eventful.” Bill whispered into Karis’ ear.

“I’ve had enough eventful antics to last a lifetime, but at least this one is of the happy sort.”

Albus Dumbledore clapped his hands together; “Right then” he said “Let’s get the party started. Mr Lovegood, where did you put those Sherbet Lemon’s?”

*

As day turned into early evening, and the sun started setting in the skies above, Harry, Luna, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Ginny looked above and watched the splendour of the looming night sky approach.

“I never thought I would witness this beauty again after what happened at Hogwarts.” said Harry, as he gently held his Girlfriend’s hand.”

Silence emitted the air briefly, until Ron answered.

“I think we’ve had our fair share of battles, but there will be more to come Harry, just because Voldemort is dead, we still don’t know where Draco is, I bet we’ll be seeing him again and it won’t be for a friendly goblet of pumpkin juice.”

“We will face that when it comes.” replied Hermione “In the meantime, we have a new term at school starting and a wedding to attend, the prospects seem to be looking up.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Harry smiled again into the glimmer of the yellows and reds which were now fading into a darker purple as the sun set across the horizon.

“Yes, we will face it when it comes.” said Harry “Because, as a united Dumbledore’s Army, we are prepared for anything.”







THE END.